The last few days before departure were emotionally and physically exhausting. Leaving my belongings behind, even though they’re just things, and saying goodbye to the people I love — sometimes quietly, without them knowing about my plans not to come back — took a lot out of me. The final preparations were no different, along with the tension over how Gino would feel in the plane’s cargo hold. There were a few sleepless nights spent wondering what that moment would be like.
To my delight, besides the warm, affectionate goodbyes with dear friends and family, everything went perfectly well. From the ride to Guarulhos airport, through Lufthansa’s incredible care (considered the best airline for transporting animals, with its own Lufthansa Animal Lounge in Frankfurt), all the way to our arrival in Germany and the transfer to beautiful Heidelberg. But Rodrigo, Pavan, Beutrão — wasn’t it supposed to be Italy? Stick with me, I’ll explain in the next post.
Before that though, Gino deserves a paragraph all to himself. My beloved “dogvisor” proved once again just how special he is throughout our whole journey. He behaved wonderfully from start to finish, including inside his “Kombi” — the affectionate name I use for his giant travel crate.
As soon as we landed in Frankfurt, the first thing I did was go look for him. Spotting his crate arriving on the special-baggage belt made my heart race, but his joy at seeing me made all the tension melt away. We went through customs, where the German agents were charmed by him and even offered him water. The check was quick: just a microchip scan matched against the paperwork approved by VIGIAGRO (Brazil’s agricultural inspection agency). My gentle giant didn’t make a single mess in his crate and waited patiently to relieve himself outside the airport. Since the crate was enormous and I wouldn’t be able to travel on with it plus my luggage, I decided to donate it right there. I don’t intend to put him through that experience again.
When we arrived at our hotel in Heidelberg, on April 1, 2026, we were warmly welcomed into a ground-floor suite. Since then, we’ve been exploring the city, which I first got to know 25 years ago while working at BASF in Ludwigshafen. We’re respectfully learning the codes of German culture, the public transport system, and every little corner of what is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany.
Follow along for the next posts, and let’s go Reimagining the Route together!